Mauritius: 'Mauritius among 10 countries with highest population density'

Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritius is among the ten countries having the highest population density in the world with 653 persons per square kilometre in 2013 for a mid-year total population of 1,217,341, PANA learnt from official sources.

According to the Mauritius Family Planning and Demographic Yearbook 2013 released Wednesday by the Health Ministry, which outlines data on population trends, vital rates, family planning, and health service points in the island, Mauritius is however witnessing a demographic shift with the declining fertility rate and increasing life expectancy.

In the last fifteen years, the total fertility rate has steadily decreased to below replacement fertility level of 2.1, that is the rate required for a population to replace itself.

In 2013, the total fertility rate was 1.41 which is the lowest figure in Africa and comparable to developed countries.

Citing statistical projections, the Yearbook said population growth rate would follow a negative trend as from year 2023 and the total population of Mauritius will decrease from 1,220,784 in 2023 to 1,002,715 in 2053.

''Furthermore, the age structure of the population is changing from a young to an ageing one. The proportion of the elderly population aged 60 years and above has increased from 5.4% of the total population in Mauritius in 1962 to 13.8 in 2013. By year 2053, this proportion is projected to be 34.3%,'' it said.

Regarding family planning, a decrease has been noted in the number of current users of family planning methods from the national family programme excluding the private sector, going from 85,503 in 2009 to 67,422 in 2013, representing a decrease of 14.7% over the past five years.

The sex ratio of the population stood at 980 males per 1,000 females and the urban population was estimated at 41.8% in 2013.

It further indicated that the average life span for a Mauritian was 74.14 years during the period 2011-2013.

Life expectancy at birth for women is about seven years longer than that of men (77.69 years for females and 70.59 years for males).

The crude birth rate was 10.7 per 1000 population in 2013, compared to 12.9 in 2008.

The infant mortality rate, which is often indicative of the general level of health care in a country, has declined from 14.3 in 2008 to 12.2 in 2013.
-0- PANA NA/SEG 12Nov2014